Engine Parts

Land Rover Connecting Rods

Connecting rods and big-end bearings for Land Rover engines.

Fitment checked against your VIN
Couriered nationwide
Supplied from Durban North

Illustrative photo of connecting rods — Illustrative photo.

Find your model

Engine Parts by Land Rover model

Where a model has a known fault in this system, it is flagged below. Each model page explains what is specific to that generation.

Defender

2 models

Defender (Classic) engine parts · 1990s–2016 Known issue: Td5 cylinder head and dowel failures
Defender (L663) engine parts · 2020–present Known issue: 2.0 Ingenium diesel timing chain wear

Discovery

5 models

Discovery 4 engine parts · 2009–2017 Known issue: Cracked intake manifold
Discovery 3 engine parts · 2005–2009 Known issue: TDV6 crankshaft main bearing failure
Discovery Sport engine parts · 2015–present Known issue: 2.0 Ingenium diesel timing chain failure
Discovery 5 engine parts · 2017–present Known issue: Clogged throttle body on the 3.0 diesel
Discovery 2 engine parts · 1999–2004 Known issue: Td5 head gasket failure from plastic dowels

Range Rover

9 models

Range Rover Sport (L320) engine parts · 2005–2013 Known issue: Split intercooler hoses (TDV6 and TDV8)
Range Rover Sport (L494) engine parts · 2013–2022 Known issue: Oil leaks
Range Rover (L405) engine parts · 2013–2022 Known issue: Diesel turbocharger replacement
Range Rover Evoque (L538) engine parts · 2011–2019 Known issue: 2.0 Ingenium diesel timing chain (later models)
Range Rover (L322) engine parts · 2002–2012 Known issue: Split intercooler hoses on the 3.6 TDV8
Range Rover Velar engine parts · 2017–present Known issue: 2.0 diesel timing chain failure
Range Rover Evoque (L551) engine parts · 2019–present Known issue: 2.0 Ingenium diesel timing chain stretch
Range Rover (L460) engine parts · 2022–present
Range Rover Sport (L461) engine parts · 2022–present

Freelander

2 models

Freelander 2 engine parts · 2007–2015 Known issue: 2.2 diesel timing belt
Freelander 1 engine parts · 1998–2006 Known issue: KV6 head gasket problems

Know the part

Understanding Connecting Rods

Connecting rods link each piston to the crankshaft. The small end holds the gudgeon pin and the big end clamps around the crank journal on a pair of bearing shells.

Rods seldom wear out on their own. They are usually replaced because a big-end bearing has spun and damaged the rod's bore, or because the engine has bent a rod after ingesting water. Water crossings are a real risk for 4x4s, and a diesel that sucks in water through the air intake can bend a rod instantly.

Common Questions About Land Rover connecting rods

What should I do if my Land Rover stalls in a river crossing?

Do not try to restart it. If water has entered the intake, cranking can bend connecting rods. Recover the vehicle, remove the glow plugs or injectors to let water out, check the air filter and intake, and change the oil before turning the engine over by hand. Know your vehicle's wading depth and fit a snorkel if you cross water often.

Can a connecting rod be reused after a bearing failure?

Only if the big-end bore is still round and within size after measurement. A rod that has run hot or had a bearing spin inside it should be replaced, together with its bolts.

Do I need new rod bolts?

Many modern engines use stretch bolts on the connecting rods that must not be reused. Check the manufacturer's workshop information for your engine and follow the tightening sequence and angle it specifies.

How do I order the right connecting rod?

Send the engine code and engine number. Rods are specific to the engine family and sometimes to the production period, so a photo of the old rod with its markings helps too.

Keep browsing

More engine parts

Camshafts Camshafts and cam followers for Land Rover four-cylinder, V6 and V8 engines Crankshafts Crankshafts for Land Rover diesel V6 and V8 engines, including replacements after bearing failure Pistons Pistons, rings and gudgeon pins for Land Rover engine rebuilds Valves Intake and exhaust valves, springs and guides for Land Rover cylinder heads Cylinder Heads Bare and assembled cylinder heads for Land Rover diesel and petrol engines Engine Blocks Short blocks, long blocks and bare engine blocks for Land Rover models Timing Chains Timing chains, tensioners and guides for chain-driven Land Rover engines such as the Td5, Puma and Ingenium Timing Belts Timing belt kits, tensioners and idlers for belt-driven Land Rover engines such as the 300Tdi and TDV6 Rocker Arms Rocker arms, rocker shafts and hydraulic followers for Land Rover valve trains Engine Bearings Main, big-end and thrust bearings for Land Rover engine rebuilds Filters Oil, air, fuel and cabin filters for every Land Rover from classic Defender to Velar Spark Plugs Spark plugs for Land Rover petrol engines, from the V8 Range Rover to the Si4 Evoque

Not sure which part fits?

Send your VIN or engine code and the SparesBoyz parts team will check fitment before quoting. Parts are couriered nationwide.

Call 031 943 9999

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